Drive mechanism



March 1949. E. F. VANDERBOSCH v2,463,332

DRIVE MECHANISM Filed July 19, 1945 INVENTOR. fog 420 ft" l/4/VDZE5056H.

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Patented Mar. 1 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVE MECHANISM Edward F. Vanderbcsch, Mishawaka, Ind.

Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,915

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a drive mechanism, and particularly to a propulsion device for childrens toy vehicles. It will be understood, however, that the device is adapted for other uses in which reciprocating or rocking motion is to be converted into rotary motion, such as for starters for outboard boat motors, etc.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, easy to assemble, smooth and positive in operation, small in size and compact.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein parts can be formed of sheet metal stampings to permit manufacture of the device at low cost.

A further object is to provide a device of this character actuated by a reversely moving memher, in which the speed of rotation of a rotary driven member increases progressively as the actuating member moves in driving direction, so that the device has a high starting torque and an inherent smooth operating characteristic.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be actuated by torque acting in one direction and which has a simple spring arrangement for returning the parts in the opposite direction to starting position.

Other objects will be apparent from the description, drawing and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of a toy scooter incorporating my improved propulsion device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention applied to a childs toy scooter, the numeral Ill designates a scooter having a horizontal frame ll including a platform l2. A front post I3 is pivoted to frame II. A handle I4 is mounted at the upper end of post 13 and a steering wheel I5 is journaled between forks at the lower end of the post. A rear wheel 16 is journaled at the rear end of the horizontal frame between rearwardly projecting fork arms 11.

A cup-shaped housing 18 is fixedly secured to one of the fork arms 11, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. Housing l8 preferably has a reduced central oiT-set l9 at its outer end, a relatively larger concentric oiT-set 20 around which an opening in arm 11 fits snugly for rigid connection by welding or the like with an annular wall portion 2| bearing against arm 11 in face engagement. A cylindrical wall portion 22 completes the housing 18. A bearing 23 fits in the central off-set l9 of the housing and journals one end of shaft 24 on which wheel 16 is fixedly secured. The other end of shaft 24 is suitably journaled in the other frame fork 11.

A sprocket 25 is splined on shaft 24 at 26 in spaced relation to bearing 23 and is positioned between the plane of housing wall portion 2| and the open end of said housing. A pair of discs 28 are journaled on shaft 24 on opposite sides of sprocket 5. Discs 28 are of larger diameter than the sprocket and are interconnected at spaced points and outwardly of the sprocket by pins 29. One pin 29 journals a pawl 30 having a detent or nose 3| engageable between the teeth of sprocket 25, and an oppositely projecting lug 32.

A sleeve 33 rotatably encircles shaft 24 adjacent to one of the discs 28. A pair of discs is mounted in spaced relation on said sleeve. The innermost disc 34 fits freely within the housing adjacent one of the discs 28 and has a flange 35 bent therefrom outwardly of the periphery of disc 28. Flange 35 has a central notch 36 therein which receives the end of lug 32 of pawl 30. The outer disc 31 fits freely within the open end of the cup-shaped housing with peripheral clearance. A plurality of pins 38 connect the two discs. A fiat coil spring 39 is positioned between the discs 34 and 31, being anchored at 40 to one of the pins 38 and being anchored at 41 at an opening 42 in the housing portion 22.

At the inner portion of the device, one of the discs 28 has a collar 21 projecting therefrom toward bearing 23. A disc 43 is journaled on collar 21. Disc 43 has a cylindrical marginal flange portion 44 which is notched to fit around a radial plate 45 positioned outwardly of bearing 23 at the end of ofi-set 20 of housing 18. An abutment ring 46 is mounted on the end of collar 21, which collar may be flanged at 21 to retain said ring thereon. A spring plate or disc 41 is positioned between abutment ring 46 and the disc 43 to normally urge the latter against disc 28.

A fitting 48 is splined to a sleeve 33 outwardly of disc 31. Fitting 48 is provided with a cam shaped outer periphery, as best illustrated in Fig. 4, which includes a radial shoulder at 49. The fitting is recessed adjacent said shoulder to receive therein one end of a chain 50 which is pivotally secured to the fitting at El. The radial dimension of the off-set or shoulder 49 of the fitting is substantially equal to the thickness of chain 50. Consequently, when the chain is coiled around the periphery of the fitting more than one revolution, asillustratedin Fig.4, the outerterns or coils will bear uponthe inner coil, with the outer surfaces of the chain forming a continuation of the helix or progressive cam surface de fined by the periphery of the fitting. Thechain is selected for its property of coiling upon-itself and maintaining alignment, for. which purpose the type known as a cable chain is preferred.

The outer end of chain 50 is pivotally connect ed at 52 to a suitable actuating member; This member is here illustrated as a bell-crank lever pivoted at 53 at the rear end of platform .I 2 of. the,

One arm 54of thelever, extends rear-- vehicle.

Wardly and upwardlyfrorn pivot 53 and normally bears upon coiled chain 50 as seen in Fig.4. The other arm 55 is inclined forwardly and upwardly from the pivot 53 and mounts a pedal, 56 posi-,. tioned above platform [2 at its free end.v

In the use of the vehicle illustrated, a child. stands upon. platform 12 and. presses the pedal 4 56 downwardly and releases pressure therefrom,

alternately. Depression. of the pedal causes the leverarrn 54fto swing upwardlyand pulls upon the chain 5llto unwind or uncoilit and thereby rotate fitting 48 and sleeve 33 in counter-clock wise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, thus winding the coiljspring 39.

The rotation of the inner disc 34,being in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig; 6, causes its notched flange 35'to tilt the pawl some the position shown in.Fig.'6 whereby the rotation ofdisc 34"is' transmitted by pawl 30'through ratchet to shaft24.

Upon completionof the downward .working stroke of pedal EBand-its release, the spring 39" unc'oils to reversely'rotate the discs 34' and :31

and the-fitting 39,- thereby--1'e-'c0iling the chain- 50. The reverse rotation of disc 34, counterclockwiseas viewed in Fig. 6, tilts the pawl about pin 29*to aposition wherein its nose or" detent-tl is clear of-thesprocket 2?? In this connectiomthe springpressure ofdisc 43*against theadjacent disc =28 introduces -a drag efiect which. permits. this pivoting "or pawl til. Discstll are otherwise tree to rotatewith disc '34; except--' upon subsequentinitialactuatingrotation-of" disc 34, when the --rep etitio'ir of the same drag action again permitspivoting "of pawl 30.

which the parts are mounted and the spring pressure ofxdisc l3 against disc -28-av0ids-free play of therparts. At the -same-time, =binding-- ment of the fitting 48 and associated rotatable parts is less for any given length of linear or longitudinal movement of the free end of chain 50 than at any other part of the working stroke, and that the ratio of angular rotation to linear movement of the chain increases progressively during the working stroke. Consequently, the device starts easily and has a soft pedal action or effect: as distinguished from a device where therratio between the movements-of the driving and the driven members is constant. The advantage of this arrangement, particularly for starting or accelerating a toy vehicle, will be obvious.

Another advantage of the device is that it can be-rnadeof small size and the operating parts can be preassembled on a shaft and then inserted=into'th'e -housing. It will be observed in this. connection that onl the bearing 23 and the plate 45 are fixed to the housing 18. All other parts, except the engagement of spring end 4! with the. housing, are independent ofthe housingi The springj'presents no" great'problem' because it is located nearjtheopen end of the housing, and the opening '42 can extend'to the.

.. edge" of the housing to. permit the spring; to be" slipped'therein' incidentt'o endwise movement of the shaft to meet it in bearing-'23.

The device is susceptible of various applications and usesotherthan-as adriving mechanism for vehicles. One such use isas' a starting mec'h anism for internal combustiomengines; such-as for outboard -motors for *boats." Alsovarious modificationsof the device may be madewithinof the parts is avoided and freerunningjournale'd operation -is-achieved. This free running operation'characterizes the device at alltimes and": facilitates coasting. In other words, itis not necessary for'the pedal ,to be inranyparticular position for coasting action to occur, so pumping,

of the pedal may be stopped at; any time, and the;; pedal held raised, depressed or ;atany--interme--v diate position.

One of the primary advantages of-thetdevice resides in the; smooth starting :afforded why .the

start of the working stroke zthewangularomQvee--.

the spirit of-the invention and the scope of theclaims.

Iclaim:

1. In a drive mechanismy-a housing, a shaft projecting into and- 'journaled insaid housing; a sprocket keyed to said shaftja pivoted pawl engageable' with'said sprocket and havi'ng-an-out wardly "projecting :lug; a pawl carrier 'j ournaled' on said-shaft; a k member' engaging said-pawlcarrier and including a part interlocked-with said housing; a spring pressing said member against said-pawl. carrier-, a spring carrier jour naled on sai'd shaft and including aprojection engaging 'saidiapawltilugi a -coil spring anchored at opposite ends to said spring carrier and said housing; said."v housing receiving said sprocket, pawl, pawl: carrier; spring zcarri'er, pawl carrier engaging member, and both springs a :fitting fixed 011 said 'springccarrier' and positioned. .exteriorly of saidhousing; gsai'ditfitting'z having: as; progressively cam-med peripheryyand a chain encircling said fitting, said chain being secured-t at one. .rendisto saidrfitting;andfhavingza free end adapted-for.connectionwith aneactuator.

2; In a drive; mechanism; a; ;housing,1 1 a: shaft journaled. in: said: housing, :=za .drivingwrunit': jour naled: on'ysaidgshafm';acdrivenmnitshaving a part keyed to said shaft adjacent saididriving-uniacshiftable' rconnectingcmeans m-supportedzwby' said shaft associated with said drivenz-unit and-cone; trolled tby a rotation :of said-adrtving unitIiin-z-pne direction athigher-1 angular velocity :than :said.-.: shaft: :for. transmitting rotation fromsaid: driving unitato said xdriven unit; saiddrivin'giunit Enormally holding;said-connectingmeansiinoperativep a spring, a-member pressedsbylsaid-1ispringm-into.;-.

frictional; engagement with? said -connec-ting- 1 means, and. releasablyJinterengaging Trial-17S ton said:.-housingsandsaid. last. named-Imembenl re spectively- (for i lockin ;saidilast 'nam'ed member against rotation with said shaft, a second spring carried :;by said-idriving unitgz: saidr driving and 5 driven units, connecting means, friction member and both springs being preassemfloled on said shaft and fitting within said housing, said second spring being detachably anchored to said housing, and an actuator carried by said driving unit and projecting from said housing.

EDWARD F. VANDERBOSCH.

REFERENCES CITED Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Parr Nov. 2, 1875 Bell June 18, 1878 Riddle Oct. 25, 1910 Irvine Aug. 7, 1917 Giufri July 8, 1924 Benedict Sept. 8, 1925 Brennan Jan, 20, 1931 Vanderbosch Oct. 23, 1934 Bergen May 24, 1938 Blount Mar. 21, 1939 

